11.03.26

IFM Day 2026: What role will AI and robotics play in cleaning and hygiene in the future?

I had the opportunity to attend IFM Day 2026 at the ZHAW in Wädenswil. Over 120 experts from academia and industry came together to discuss the impact of artificial intelligence, robotics and digitalisation on real estate and facility management.

The event focused on the question of how the interaction between people and technology will develop in the future. In service-oriented areas such as facility services, cleaning and hygiene in particular, there is a growing challenge to make sensible use of technological possibilities without losing sight of the human aspect.

The event kicked off with three keynote speeches that offered different perspectives on the topic. Among other things, they addressed the limitations of artificial intelligence in dealing with meaning and experience, new developments in the field of physical AI, and the question of what skills professionals will need in an increasingly technology-driven world of work.

These issues were then discussed in depth in three workshops. The focus was on ethical and social aspects as well as the further development of skills and job profiles in facility management.

In the workshop led by Prof. Dr. Theresa Schmiedel & Dr. Nicole Gerber on the topic of “Robots in everyday life: perspectives for today and tomorrow”, in which Matthias Ruoss, Managing Director of Enzler Reinigungen AG, also participated, the focus was on the question of how technology can be meaningfully integrated into services without losing sight of the human aspect.

Matthias summarised his impressions of the day as follows:

“What I take away from IFM Day 2026: The future of our industry will be shaped by people, their expertise, their courage and their willingness to develop further. That is exactly where we come in as a company.”

In the field of cleaning and hygiene in particular, technological developments are opening up new possibilities, for example through sensor technology, data-based planning and automated systems. At the same time, the professional competence of employees remains crucial in order to assess situations correctly, ensure quality standards and reliably implement hygiene requirements.

The IFM Day has once again demonstrated how valuable the exchange between research, practice and service companies is in actively and responsibly shaping the future of facility services.